Refugees at Home names CEO
Refugees at Home has appointed Carly Whyborn as its chief executive.
Whyborn joined the charity four years ago and has most recently served as chief operating officer.
She has also been leading the organisation as acting chief executive during Lauren Scott’s maternity leave.
Scott is stepping down after eight years as chief executive but will remain an active supporter.
The charity said on LinkedIn that the move would keep it “lean, sustainable and focused on our mission”.
CEO to step down at Family Rights Group
Cathy Ashley will step down as chief executive of Family Rights Group in spring next year after 22 years leading the charity.
Ashley cited the workload of her charity role combined with her responsibilities as a House of Lords peer, a role she took up last month, as her primary reason for leaving.
During her tenure, the charity instigated the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care, and secured a law change strengthening children in care’s right to contact with siblings.
Ashley said: “Leading Family Rights Group for the past 22 years has been an extraordinary privilege.”
CrossReach selects CEO
Social care charity CrossReach has picked John Cooper as its next chief executive.
Cooper joins from Angus Council, where he has spent three years as head of community health and social care. He has more than 25 years’ experience across voluntary and statutory sectors.
He succeeds Viv Dickensen, who retired in September after nine years as chief executive and 30 years with the charity.
Mike Cantlay, CrossReach convener, said: “With his extensive experience across the social care sector, he is ideally placed to bring strong leadership to CrossReach.”
UnLtd chief executive to leave charity
Mark Norbury will leave his role as chief executive of UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs, next summer after more than 11 years in charge.
During his tenure, the charity raised and deployed £50m in grants and support to more than 1,000 social entrepreneurs during the Covid pandemic, among other initiatives.
Recruitment for a successor is under way, with an appointment planned for early 2027 ahead of his departure.
Rachel Barton, chair, said: “He will leave an organisation with a clear strategy, strong partnerships and huge ambition for what comes next.”
IMechE confirms permanent chief executive
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has named Jo Passingham as its permanent chief executive after she served as interim CEO.
As interim, her work included policy reports, campaigns and government engagement.
Passingham previously led organisational change at the Prince’s Trust, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Climate-KIC and Sitel.
Her selection followed an assessment by an appointment panel at the IMechE charity – she was later confirmed by the board.
CEO joins Worthing Theatres & Museum
Worthing Theatres & Museum has selected Louise Blackwell as its new chief executive.
Blackwell will join in January and work full-time from April next year.
She has more than 25 years’ experience in the arts, having co-founded the touring theatre company Fuel and more recently founded Creative Crawley.
Blackwell will lead the Connaught Theatre, Pavilion Theatre, Assembly Hall and Worthing Museum & Art Gallery.
James Turnbull, chair, said: “Her combination of creative ambition, practical experience and belief in culture’s potential makes her the right person to lead our charity into its next chapter.”
SYP leader moves to Humanist Society Scotland
Jamie Dunlop is leaving his post as chief executive of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) to take the same role at Humanist Society Scotland.
Dunlop, who will take up the role in November, has led the SYP since 2023 after eight years as deputy.
He has nearly 20 years’ experience in the charity sector, including income generation, policy development and government relations, and is a Dynamic Earth trustee.
The SYP board said it would now lead a process to recruit a new chief executive.
South Hill Park Arts Centre chief executive to depart
South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell has announced that chief executive Craig Titley-Rawson will leave his post on Saturday after nine and a half years in charge.
Titley-Rawson joined in 2017 and said he was looking towards “new challenges and adventures”.
Mark Hooper, who recently became interim deputy chief executive, will work with the board and senior team to support the development of the arts centre.
Michelle James, chair, said: “Craig has made a valued contribution to South Hill Park and carried out the responsibilities of Chief Executive with commitment, passion, and professionalism.”
Brunelcare picks chair
Brunelcare, a charity focused on later life support, has selected Bruce Moore as its chair.
Moore has led Housing 21 since 2013 and previously served as chief executive of Hanover Housing Group, as well as Wolverhampton Homes.
He is a qualified solicitor who has sat on the boards of various housing associations and charities.
Moore succeeds Graham Russell who has held post since July 2023. Moore’s priority at Brunelcare will be overseeing the recruitment of a permanent chief executive.
Chair and trustee join Target Ovarian Cancer
Health charity Target Ovarian Cancer has appointed Katie Wadey as its chair, with Alex Fisher also joining the board.
Wadey succeeds Sonya Branch, who has retired after two and a half years as chair and 15 years on the board.
The new chair was most recently chief product and commercial officer at financial services firm Wesleyan, and has held senior roles at Simplyhealth, BT, Tesco, British Gas and Aviva.
She has been a trustee of Transform Housing and Support since 2019 and sits on the board of Golden Charter.
Carers UK appoints trustees
Carers UK has appointed eight trustees to its board who were welcomed at the charity’s annual general meeting.
The trustees are Ruth Eakin, Katie Farrington, Gaynor Gillespie, Ben Harrison, Jamie Hutchinson, Shelina Janmohamed, Emma Lowndes and Saz Willey.
Their experience ranges from public policy, finance, HR, health and social care, and the charity sector.
Nick Baird, Carers UK chair, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome our new trustees at an exciting time for Carers UK when unpaid carers are high on the agenda.”
